The utility's top officials held a news conference Tuesday in Albuquerque with an update on efforts to restore service in Taos and Espanola. Company president Annette Gardiner says when the gas company said it expected to have service restored by Sunday, officials thought at the time it was "an attainable goal."

Two days later, residents and businesses who have been without natural gas service for six days are preparing for more winter weather, with a storm expected to drop temperatures below zero overnight and leave 7 inches of snow in Taos.

Officials say service has been restored to 72 percent of customers in Espanola and 70 percent in Taos.